Edward Slingerland

Trying Not to Try (eBook, ePUB)

The Ancient Art of Effortlessness and the Surprising Power of Spontaneity

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

Why is it hard to fall asleep the night before an important meeting? Or be charming and relaxed on a first date? In all these cases, spontaneity is elusive. What is it about a comedian whose jokes fall flat or an athlete who chokes? In Trying Not to Try, Edward Slingerland shows us how we can harness its power and become more effective.

We've long been told that the way to achieve our goals is through careful reasoning and conscious effort, but recent research suggests that many aspects of a satisfying life are best pursued indirectly. The early Chinese philosophers knew this, and they wrote extensively about how we can achieve wu-wei (ooo-way) - an effortless, spontaneous way of being in the world.

Through stories of mythical creatures and drunken cart riders, jazz musicians and Japanese motorcycle gangs, Slingerland effortlessly blends Eastern thought and cutting-edge science to show us how we can embody a spontaneous way of being and live more fulfilling lives.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: Severn House
• Seitenzahl: 304
• Erscheinungstermin: 3. April 2014
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9780857863492
• Artikelnr.: 40514948

Autorenporträt

Edward Slingerland is an internationally recognized expert in both early Chinese thought and the links between cognitive science and the humanities. He is Professor of Asian Studies, Associate Member in the Departments of Philosophy and Psychology, and holds the Canada Research Chair in Chinese Thought and Embodied Cognition at the University of British Columbia. He is the author of Effortless Action (2003) and What Science Offers the Humanities (2008).

Rezensionen

In this fascinating book, Edward Slingerland tackles one of the most infuriating obstacles we encounter in our attempts to live meaningful lives. When we try with too much conscious effort to feel happy, or achieve our goals, we sabotage ourselves - but trying to be spontaneous is equally futile. The way out of this paradox is wu-wei, the ancient Chinese ideal of effortless yet accomplished living. Trying Not to Try is both a deeply researched history of this enviable state of relaxed success, and a witty guide to achieving it yourself. Don't overthink whether you're going to read it - just read it OLIVER BURKEMAN author of THE ANTIDOTE